Maternity girdle



March 27, 1962 B. K. KAUPP MATERNITY GIRDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1960 FIG.|

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MATERNITY GIRDLE March 27, 1962 Filed Oct. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY z ATTORNEY York Filed Oct. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 60,351 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-540) This invention relates to a maternity girdle adapted to comfortably support the abdomen in progressive changes therein, to provide an abdominal panel of elastic net which is stretchable both horizontally and vertically, the latter being carried by a unitary back and hip panel which has greater resistance to stretching but which also has stretch laterally and angularly of the lateral stretch. The back and hip panel is carried by a specially formed waist band which is inelastic vertically but which has longitudinal elasticity. The forward ends of the waist band terminate at the opposite margins of the freely elastic abdominal panel. To complete the structure a sling band is provided inwardly of the abdominal panel at the lower end thereof. The opposed ends of the sling band are secured to the back and hip panel, and centrally of the band, at its lower margin, it is connected by a short fabric piece to an elastic insert below and secured to back and hip panel.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear fragmentary elevation showing the back upper portion of the girdle.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation showing the front of the girdle.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 3-3, FIG. 1, the back area of the girdle being at the left of the figure.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation looking inwardly toward the abdominal insert, the girdle having been flattened and the back and hip panel having been substantially cut away.

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation, being an enlarged section on the line 5-5, FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that certain primary elements of the girdle comprise a unitary back and hip panel 1 having a front elastic insert 2 above which is an elastic net abdominal panel 3. All of the aforesaid elements have both vertical and horizontal stretch, but the abdominal panel has light stretch resistance, preferably being composed of elastic net, whereas the back and hip panel 1 and the elastic insert 2 are more resistant to stretching although they do have stretch in two directions. If desired, the lower margin of the girdle may have any suitable form of crotch piece so as to provide a pantie girdle, this being indicated at 4 in FIGS. 1 and 4, but such an expedient forms no part of the present invention, and is a matter of selection when desired.

In the usual distension of the abdomen, yielding support is provided by the abdominal panel and stresses are thrown laterally upon the back and hip panel, and from the latter to a specially formed waist band 5. This band extends around the back of the girdle and its ends terminate at the front margins of the back and hip panel and being seamed thereto. The top of the back and hip hired States Patent ace panel is formed in a continuous curve as shown more particularly in FIG. 1 and lies over upon the elastic waist band 5 and to which it is secured by a seam 7. As shown by dotted lines at 8, the lower margin of the waist band 5 extends below the upper edge of the back and hip panel and is generally free therefrom. However, two vertically extending bone stiffening members 9 are secured in any desired manner from the top of the waist band 5 to a point substantially below the waist band.

Inwardly of the abdominal panel 3 is disposed a sling band 10 of greater length than the width of the unstretched abdominal panel and which at its ends is seamed to the opposed margins of the back and hip panel 1. The lower margin of sling band 10 is seamed to a short fabric piece 11, which in turn is seamed to front elastic insert 2.

The elements are so proportioned that the normal waist line lies approximately at the dotted line 8, FIG. 1. Therefore the longitudinally stretchable band 5, hereinbefore termed the waist band, for convenience, lies several inches above said waist line, and in the preferred embodiment about two and one-half inches above normal waist line. Also it will be seen that the top of the ab dominal panel rises above the waist band when the girdle is at rest. As the abdominal panel is stretched, in normal use, its top will be given a downward pull, which pull is transmitted to the unusually high longitudinal-stretch waist band, so that the latter, which is restricted to the back and hip portions of the wearer, will impose the stress upon an area above the hips, primarily at the back, and ideal for adequate and comfortable support. As the bulge of the abdomen exerts stress, the sling band 10 will transmit the downward and outward lower stress of the abdomen, first to the side areas of the back and hip panel, and thence to the waist band lying above the normal waist line.

Having fully described my invention, what I now claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

A maternity girdle adapted to comfortably support the abdomen in progressive changes therein, consisting of an abdominal panel of elastic net which is stretchable both horizontally and vertically, a unitary back and hip panel carrying said abdominal panel and which has greater resistance to stretching than the abdominal panel, but which also has stretch laterally and also angularly of the lateral stretch, a waist band carrying the back and hip panel and which is inelastic vertically, but which has longitudinal elasticity, the forward ends of the waist band terminating at the opposite margins of the freely elastic abdominal panel, in combination with a sling band provided inwardly of the abdominal panel at the lower end thereof, the opposed ends of the sling band being secured to the back and hip panel, an elastic insert panel below the abdominal panel, a hem band at the base of said elastic insert panel, and a short fabric piece connecting said sling band to said elastic insert panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,529,115 Thalman Nov. 7, 1950 2,717,388 Rutledge Sept. 13, 1955 2,955,599 Blatt Oct. 11, 1960 

